Gameday Guide For Coaches

First and foremost, your job as a coach is to create a safe environment for your players to have fun. Please keep that in mind, and remember to be patient and kind to players, referees, other volunteers, and parents. You set the example for your team, so please be a good role model.

Game Schedule

Access your game schedule via these instructions and populate it to TeamSnap (if you are using it). Remind parents of your schedule before each game and confirm player attendance.

Print medical release forms

Coaches are required to have physical copies of medical release forms for their team. Instructions for printing them can be found here.

Print lineup cards (U10 and above)

Print out lineup cards to track your substitutions and make sure that each player is getting the appropriate amount of playing time (at least 50%, no player plays 4 quarters until everyone has played 3). Instructions for printing them can be found here.

Game Formats

Make sure you’re familiar with the game format for your division (are there goalies? is there a buildout line?)

No Jewelry

Jewelry, including earrings and any visible body piercing or any hard replacement stud used when the jewelry is not being worn, must be removed before the player is allowed to participate in a practice or game. Covering the jewelry or hard replacement stud with tape, padding or bandage is not sufficient; the jewelry or hard replacement stud must be removed in order to play.

Coaches have the responsibility of not allowing players wearing jewelry to participate in practices or games.

Covering the jewelry or hard replacement stud with tape, padding or bandage is not sufficient; the jewelry or hard replacement stud must be removed before playing. Subject to approval of the Referee, various soft, flexible materials that present no danger to the player or other players may be used to keep recent body piercings open for participation during games.

In the case of visible taped-over or bandaged suspected piercings, Referees must not ask players to lift or remove articles of clothing or bandages. It is acceptable however, to ask a player if the tape or bandages is covering an earring. The Referee must accept the answer provided, regardless of suspicion and if in the opinion of the Referee, the item is deemed to be dangerous, the player will not be allowed to participate on that day.

Coaches have the responsibility of not allowing players wearing jewelry to participate in practices or games. Coaches and Referees are role models and should avoid wearing jewelry, earrings and hard replacement studs during practices or games.

Field Setup and Takedown

The first Home team of the day is responsible for setting up the field, and the last Home team of the day is responsible for putting away any field equipment (flags, goals, etc.). Instructions are here.

Identify parent volunteers to arrive early or stay late to assist, TeamSnap an be useful to track assignments such as field duty.

Managing Blowouts

Blowouts aren’t fun for anyone. Make sure you have a plan going into your game about what you’ll do if the score or level of play seems lopsided.

Post-game Snack

The most important part about GameDay! Make sure that a parent volunteer is bringing a snack. You can use TeamSnap to track assignments such as snack duty.